Conveyor

ABSTRACT

A conveyor for separating, singulating or conveying bulk material comprises a conveying plate, a substructure and a pulse generator for generating an oscillation. The substructure stands on a base surface. The conveying plate is arranged on the substructure at a distance from the base surface. The pulse generator is fixed on the substructure and is/can be brought into an operative connection with the conveying plate. The oscillation generated by the pulse generator can be transmitted to the conveying plate and a force is exerted on the substructure by the oscillation. The conveyor comprises an equalising pulse generator which is fixed on the substructure and creates a counter-oscillation. A counter-force which is in an opposite direction to the force is exerted on the substructure by the counter-oscillation. A resultant force which results from the force and the counter-force and which acts on the substructure is reduced by the counter-force.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102020 106 350.4, filed Mar. 9, 2020.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a conveyor for separating, singulating and/orconveying at least one component by means of at least one mechanicalpulse.

BACKGROUND

Conveyors are used in particular in order to separate and singulatecomponents by one or more pulses and/or oscillations. “Separate” in thepresent case means that the components are detached from each other, forexample screws or clips which have become caught together, nuts whichare attached to each other or the like. In contrast, “singulate” in thepresent case means that the components are arranged in relation to eachother such that they are at a minimum distance from each other and canthus be picked up, for example by a person or a machine.

Frequently, such conveyors are brought into an operative connection witha hopper system, with components which are stored in the hopper systembeing poured onto the conveying plate. By one or more pulses oroscillations, the components can be conveyed away from the hopper systemand displaced on the conveying plate in the direction of a receivingregion. In this case, the components are usually also singulated by thepulse or pulses or the oscillation, so that they can be picked up in thereceiving region by a machine. The machines used for receiving thecomponents in the receiving region are usually what are called handlingdevices.

The conveyors described are frequently used within partially or fullyautomated manufacturing plants which have handling systems which areadapted to the conveyors. The handling systems have for example camerasystems by means of which the components which are arranged on theconveying plate can be detected, in order thus to determine which of thecomponents can be picked up from the conveying plate, for example bymeans of a gripper. Insofar as the handling system ascertains that noneof the components can be picked up by means of the gripper, one or morepulses are applied to the conveyor, or the conveyor is caused tooscillate in order to distance the components from each other such thatthey can be picked up by means of the gripper.

The conveyors known from the prior art, of the type described firsthereinbefore, are used in particular in the precision engineeringproduction sector, for example in producing clocks, mobile telephones orthe like, i.e. everywhere where components of relatively smalldimensions are processed.

The larger the components to be conveyed, the larger the conveyors usedalso have to be, since greater forces have to be exerted on thecomponents to be conveyed. With the conveyors known from the prior art,it is not possible to scale beyond a certain size, since the necessarypulses or oscillation and the resulting force which acts on thesubstructure would exceed an acceptable amount. In this case, alimitation arises for scaling not only from the increasingly largeforces, which act in particular on the substructure, but in particularalso from the fact that the conveyor due to its operation and thevibrations produced thereby also has an adverse effect on adjoiningregions of the manufacturing plant.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a conveyor withwhich components even of a large component size can be conveyed, and inso doing as little vibrations as possible are transmitted to thesurroundings.

This object is achieved in that the conveyor comprises at least oneequalising pulse generator which is fixed on the substructure, by whichpulse generator at least one counter-pulse can be generated, wherein acounter-force which is in an opposite direction to the force is exertedon the substructure by the counter-pulse, and wherein a resultant forcewhich results from the force and the counter-force and which acts on thesubstructure is reduced by the counter-force. In this case, provision isadvantageously made that the pulse generator and the equalising pulsegenerator are coupled together such that the counter-pulse generated bythe equalising pulse generator destructively interferes with the pulsegenerated by the pulse generator.

Provision is made that the pulse generators have for example a massand/or can be brought into an operative connection with a mass which isdisplaceable out of a non-operative position by means of suitable actionmeans and thus applies a pulse to the conveyor. The action means may befor example electromagnetic, electromechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic orsimilar actuators. Furthermore, provision is advantageously also madethat the mass which can be subjected to one of the pulses by one of thepulse generators may comprise one of the elements of the conveyor, forexample the conveying plate.

Provision is advantageously made that the pulse generator and theequalising pulse generator can be brought into an operative connectionmechanically with each other, for example by means of springs, couplingrods or the like. With such a mechanical coupling, provision is made inparticular that the pulse of the pulse generator is transmitted to theequalising pulse generator by a mechanical coupling system such that thepulse and the counter-pulse are in opposite directions to each other.

Particularly preferably, both the pulse generator and the equalisingpulse generator are advantageously designed as electromagnetic pulsegenerators and brought into an operative connection with each other bymeans of electrical and/or electromagnetic and/or magnetic effects. Inthis case, it is in particular possible for the pulse generator and theequalising pulse generator to be brought into an operative connectionwith a control unit, with the control unit generating the pulse by meansof the pulse generator and the counter-pulse by means of the equalisingpulse generator.

One advantageous implementation of the inventive concept provides thatthe equalising pulse generator comprises a counter-mass and/or is/can bebrought into an operative connection with a counter-mass, wherein thecounter-force can be increased by the counter-mass. By such aconfiguration of the conveyor, it is made possible for the resultantforce which acts on the substructure to be able to be reduced further.It is also possible and provided that the counter-mass may be designedsuch that the counter-force when the conveyor is used as intended isgreater than the force.

Provision is advantageously made that the counter-mass can be formed forexample by a solid body, for instance a metal part, but alternatively bya liquid, for example a hydraulic fluid which can be introduced into anexpandable hydraulic hose.

Parameters by means of which a suitable counter-mass of the conveyor canusefully be selected are in particular a weight of the conveying plate,a weight of the components, dimensions of the components or the like.The greater a mass of the system formed from the pulse generator, theconveying plate and the components is, the larger the counter-mass alsohas to be in order to be able to generate a sufficiently largecounter-force.

One advantageous configuration of the invention provides that thecounter-mass is/can be adapted to the conveyor such that an amount ofthe force is equal to an amount of the counter-force, so that theresultant force can be cancelled completely. Complete cancelling of theresultant force advantageously leads to no forces acting on thesubstructure and thus affecting of the surroundings of the conveyorbeing minimised or prevented by its use as intended.

In one advantageous configuration of the conveyor, provision is madethat an amount of the counter-pulse which can be generated by theequalising pulse generator is changeable, so that the counter-force canbe increased without the counter-mass having to be changed. An increasein the amount of the counter-pulse and/or the amplitude of thecounter-oscillation while the frequency of the counter-oscillationremains the same leads to greater acceleration, so that thecounter-force can be increased while the counter-mass remains the same.

One advantageous implementation of the inventive concept provides thatthe substructure comprises a plate receptacle at a distance from thebase surface, on which receptacle the conveying plate can be fixed,wherein the pulse generator is/can be brought into an operativeconnection with the plate receptacle and wherein the conveying plateis/can be brought into an operative connection with the pulse generatorby means of the plate receptacle. Particularly preferably, the platereceptacle has a tool-less quick-change system, by means of which theconveying plate can be fixed on the plate receptacle. Such aconfiguration of the conveyor makes it possible for the conveyor to beadaptable to different demands in a simple manner.

It is furthermore also possible and provided that the conveyor may haveoscillation-influencing elements, for example springs, dampers or thelike. In this case, provision is made in particular that the platereceptacle can be fixed on the substructure by means of an upper springarrangement and be resiliently mounted thereby, so that a mechanicallyresonant system can be formed by the plate receptacle, the conveyingplate and the upper spring arrangement, which system can be caused tooscillate by means of the pulse generator.

One advantageous configuration of the invention provides that thesubstructure comprises at least one stand element, wherein thesubstructure when used as intended stands on the base surface with thestand element.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, provision isadvantageously made that the substructure may have a plurality of standelements, wherein at least one of the stand elements comprises a heightadjustment mechanism, so that the substructure can advantageously beoriented parallel to the base surface.

In one advantageous configuration of the conveyor, provision is madethat at least one stand element has vibration-damping properties.Provision is made that such vibration-damping properties can be obtainedin particular in that the stand element is produced at least in portionsfrom an elastomer.

One advantageous implementation of the inventive concept provides thatthe conveyor comprises at least one coupling means, wherein the conveyorcan be fixed on the base surface by means of the coupling means. Thecoupling means may for example be designed as a tab, the tab having acutout which penetrates through the tab, with a screw which can be ableto be screwed to the base surface being able to be passed through thecutout.

Furthermore, provision is advantageously also made that the couplingmeans may comprise quick-release closures and/or be compatible withquick-release closures, for example with latch hooks, bayonet locks,magnetic catches or the like. Particularly preferably, the couplingmeans is fixed on the substructure.

One advantageous configuration of the invention provides that theconveyor comprises at least two pulse generators, wherein a firstpartial conveying pulse can be generated by one of the pulse generators,wherein a second partial conveying pulse can be generated by another ofthe pulse generators, wherein the first partial conveying pulse and thesecond partial conveying pulse can be superimposed in the conveyingplate to form a conveying pulse, wherein a conveying force can beexerted on the components by the conveying plate which is subjected tothe conveying pulse, so that the components arranged on the conveyingplate are displaceable from a first storage position into a secondstorage position. In order to be able to generate conveying forces whichare directed in different directions, provision is furthermoreadvantageously made that the conveyor may also have more than two pulsegenerators.

In one advantageous configuration of the conveyor, provision is madethat the conveyor comprises at least two equalising pulse generators,wherein a first partial counter-pulse can be generated by one of theequalising pulse generators, wherein a second partial counter-pulse canbe generated by another of the equalising pulse generators, wherein thefirst partial counter-pulse and the second partial counter-pulse can besuperimposed to form a total counter-pulse, wherein a resultantcounter-force is exerted on the substructure by the total counter-pulse,wherein the resultant counter-force is in an opposite direction to adisruptive force exerted on the substructure by the conveying pulse, andwherein the resultant force which acts on the substructure and whichresults from the resultant counter-force and the disruptive force isreduced by the resultant counter-force. In order to be able to produce aconveyor thus configured particularly efficiently, provision isadvantageously made that an equalising pulse generator is associatedwith each pulse generator.

Particularly preferably, the counter-mass in this case is advantageouslydesigned as a plate-shaped element which is brought into an operativeconnection with all the equalising pulse generators of the conveyor. Inthis case, provision is made in particular that the counter-mass can befixed on the substructure by means of a lower spring arrangement and beresiliently mounted thereby, so that a mechanically resonant system canbe formed by the counter-mass and the lower spring arrangement, whichsystem is subjected to the counter-pulse and/or can be caused tocounter-oscillate by means of the equalising pulse generator.

One advantageous configuration of the invention provides that theconveying plate is produced at least in portions from an at leasttranslucent material. Furthermore, provision is advantageously likewisemade that the conveying plate can be produced also at least in portionsfrom a transparent material. “Transparent” here in the present casemeans that the conveying plate is completely transparent to visiblelight, “translucent” meaning that the conveying plate scatters visiblelight, for example by being configured as a pane of frosted glass.

In one advantageous configuration of the conveyor, provision is madethat the conveyor comprises an illumination means, wherein the conveyingplate can be backlit by means of the illumination means. “Can bebacklit” in this case means that components arranged on the conveyingplate can be illuminated from the side by which they lie on theconveying plate. By such a configuration of the conveyor, analysis ofcomponents which are arranged on the conveying plate is facilitated, inparticular if the analysis takes place by means of an optical system.

One advantageous implementation of the inventive concept provides thatthe conveyor comprises a device control unit, wherein at least the pulsegenerators of the conveyor are controllable by means of the devicecontrol unit, wherein the device control unit comprises an interfacemeans, wherein the conveyor can be brought into an operative connectionwith an external device by means of the interface means of the devicecontrol unit. Such a configuration of the conveyor makes it possible forthe conveyor to be able to be brought into an operative connection forexample with a process control system, so that operation of the conveyorcan be coordinated with further devices which take part in a productionprocess.

In a particularly preferred configuration of the conveyor, provision ismade that the conveyor comprises a cancellation control unit and adevice control unit, wherein the cancellation control unit controls theequalising pulse generators independently of the pulse generatorscontrolled by the device control unit. Such a configuration of theconveyor makes it possible for cancelling of undesirable vibrations tobe able to be carried out independently by the conveyor.

In particular in order to be able to displace the components even overrelatively long displacement paths with as uniform as possible amovement from the first component position to the second componentposition, provision is advantageously made that at least one of thepulse generators is designed as an oscillator, wherein an oscillationcan be generated by the pulse generator which is designed as anoscillator. With such a configuration of the conveyor, provision may bemade that in each case instead of and/or in addition to the pulse andthe counter-pulse an oscillation and a counter-oscillation can be ableto be generated by the pulse generators which are designed asoscillators, wherein the oscillation and the counter-oscillation, theoscillation and the counter-pulse and/or the pulse and thecounter-oscillation can be adapted to each other such that they at leastin part interfere destructively with each other, so that the resultantforce which acts on the substructure can be reduced.

In the case of pulse generators which act as oscillators, provision isadvantageously made that the oscillation can be transmitted to theequalising pulse generator with a phase shift of 180 degrees, so thatthe counter-oscillation can be generated by the equalising pulsegenerator.

In one advantageous configuration of the conveyor, provision is madethat an amplitude of the counter-oscillation which can be generated bythe equalising pulse generator which acts as an oscillator ischangeable, so that the counter-force can be increased without thecounter-mass having to be changed. An increase in the amplitude of thecounter-oscillation while the frequency of the counter-oscillationremains the same leads to greater acceleration, so that thecounter-force can be increased while the counter-mass remains the same.

In the case of pulse generators which act as oscillators, provision isfurthermore advantageously made that a first partial conveyingoscillation can be generated by one of the pulse generators, wherein asecond partial conveying oscillation can be generated by another of thepulse generators, wherein the first partial conveying oscillation andthe second partial conveying oscillation in the conveying plate can besuperimposed to form a conveying oscillation, wherein the conveyingforce can be exerted on the components by the conveying plate which iscaused to oscillate with the conveying oscillation, so that thecomponents arranged on the conveying plate are displaceable from thefirst storage position to the second storage position.

Furthermore, provision is advantageously also made that merely one ofthe two pulse generators can act as an oscillator, so that the firstpartial conveying oscillation can be generated by the pulse generatorwhich acts as an oscillator, wherein the first partial conveying pulsecan be generated by the other pulse generator, wherein the first partialconveying oscillation and the first partial conveying pulse can besuperimposed in the conveying plate to form the conveying oscillation,wherein the conveying force can be exerted on the components by theconveying plate which is caused to oscillate with the conveyingoscillation, so that the components arranged on the conveying plate aredisplaceable from the first storage position to the second storageposition.

In this case, provision is advantageously also made that one of thepartial conveying oscillations may have a frequency of 0 Hz, or that oneof the partial conveying pulses has an amount of 0, i.e. that at leastone of the pulse generators is not actively deflected out of itsnon-operative position.

Furthermore, in the case of pulse generators which act as oscillators,provision is advantageously made that a first partialcounter-oscillation can be generated by one of the equalising pulsegenerators, wherein a second partial counter-oscillation can begenerated by another of the equalising pulse generators, wherein thefirst partial counter-oscillation and the second partialcounter-oscillation can be superimposed to form a totalcounter-oscillation, wherein the resultant counter-force is exerted onthe substructure by the total counter-oscillation, wherein the resultantcounter-force is in an opposite direction to the disruptive forceexerted on the substructure by the conveying oscillation and/or theconveying pulse and wherein the resultant force which acts on thesubstructure and which results from the resultant counter-force and thedisruptive force is reduced by the resultant counter-force.

Below, some exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept, which areillustrated in the drawings, will be discussed in greater detail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematically illustrated sectional view of an embodiment ofthe conveyor.

FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective view of the embodiment of theconveyor shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the conveyorwith a cancellation control unit and a device control unit.

FIGS. 4 A and 4 B are schematic representations of an embodiment of theconveyor with conveying plate and counter-mass.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a schematically illustrated sectional view of an embodimentof a conveyor 1. The conveyor 1 comprises a conveying plate 2, asubstructure 3 and also four pulse generators 4.

In the sectional view shown, merely two of the four pulse generators 4are visible, of which one is provided with a reference numeral. In eachcase both a pulse and an oscillation can be generated by the pulsegenerators 4. The pulse generators 4 are fixed on the substructure 3,and the substructure 3 stands on a base surface 5. The substructure 3comprises a plate receptacle 6 at a distance from the base surface, onwhich the conveying plate 2 is fixed in a clamping manner. The pulsegenerators 4 are designed as electromagnetic components which have acoil portion 7. A magnetic field can be generated by the coil portion 7.The magnetic field generated may also be a pulsating one. “Pulsating” inthe present case means that the magnetic field has a field strengthwhich is changeable over time with an in particular sinusoidal form. Theplate receptacle 6 comprises reaction elements 8 which are arrangedabove the coil portions 7 of the pulse generators 4. Between the pulsegenerators 4 and the plate receptacle 6, an operative connection isproduced in that the magnetic field generated by the coil portions 7 ofthe pulse generators 4 acts on the reaction element 8. The conveyingplate 2 is brought into an operative connection with the pulsegenerators 4 by means of the plate receptacle 6. The pulse generated bythe pulse generators 4 by means of the reaction elements 8 can thus betransmitted to the conveying plate 2.

The plate receptacle 6 is fixed on the substructure 3 by means of anupper spring arrangement 9 and is resiliently mounted by spring elementsof the upper spring arrangement 9. The plate receptacle 6, the conveyingplate 2 and the upper spring arrangement 9 form a mechanically resonantsystem which can be subjected to the pulse electromagnetically by meansof the coil portions 7 of the pulse generators 4 and the reactionelements 8 which are fixed on the plate receptacle 6. The conveyor 1shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated in its non-operative state, with noforces other than gravity acting on the elements of the conveyor 1 inthe non-operative state.

Three schematically illustrated components 10 are arranged on theconveying plate 2. By displacement of the plate receptacle by means of apulse generated by the pulse generators 4, the components 10 can beseparated from each other, singulated and conveyed, with a force beingexerted on the substructure 3 by the pulse.

The conveyor 1 comprises four equalising pulse generators 11 and also acounter-mass 12. Of the four equalising pulse generators 11, only twoare visible in the sectional view shown, of which one is designated. Theequalising pulse generators 11, similarly to the pulse generators 4, aredesigned as electromagnetic components which have a coil portion 7. Amagnetic field, which may also be a pulsating one, can be generated bythe coil portion 7 of the equalising pulse generators 11 as well. Thecounter-mass 12 comprises reaction elements 8 which are arranged beneaththe coil portions 7 of the equalising pulse generators 11. Between theequalising pulse generators 11 and the counter-mass 12, an operativeconnection is produced in that the magnetic field generated by the coilportions 7 of the equalising pulse generators 11 acts on the reactionelement 8.

The counter-mass 12 is fixed on the substructure 3 by means of a lowerspring arrangement 13 and is resiliently mounted by spring elements ofthe spring arrangement 13. The counter-mass 12 and the lower springarrangement 13 form a mechanically resonant system which is displaceableelectromagnetically by means of the coil portions 7 of the equalisingpulse generators 11 and the reaction elements 8 which are fixed on thecounter-mass 12, in that said system can be subjected to acounter-pulse.

A counter-force which is in an opposite direction to the force isexerted on the substructure 3 by the counter-pulse. A resultant forceresulting from the force and the counter-force, which acts on thesubstructure 3, is reduced by the counter-force. In the embodimentillustrated, the counter-mass is adapted to the conveyor 1 such that anamount of the force is equal to an amount of the counter-force, so thatthe resultant force can be cancelled completely.

The conveyor 1 shown in FIG. 1 also comprises four stand elements 14with which the substructure 3 stands on the base surface 5. The standelements 14 are manufactured from an elastomer and havevibration-damping properties. The conveying plate 2 of the conveyor 1 isproduced from a translucent material and the conveyor 1 can be broughtinto an operative connection with an illumination means by means ofwhich the conveying plate 2 can be backlit.

FIG. 2 shows a schematically illustrated perspective view of theconveyor 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, with merely the four pulse generators4, the conveying plate 2, the substructure 3, the four equalising pulsegenerators 11 and the counter-mass 12 being illustrated. A component 10is arranged on the conveying plate 2 of the conveyor 1.

A first partial conveying pulse 15 is generated by one of the pulsegenerators 4 of the conveyor 1 illustrated. A second partial conveyingpulse 16 is generated by a further pulse generator 4. The partialconveying pulses 15, 16 are superimposed in the conveying plate 2 toform a conveying pulse 17. The first partial conveying pulse 15 has afirst pulse vector 18, the amount of which is greater than an amount ofa second pulse vector 19 of the second partial conveying pulse 16, thepartial conveying pulses 15, 16 being oriented parallel to each otherand acting simultaneously on the conveying plate 2. A conveying force 20is exerted on the component 10 by the conveying plate 2 which issubjected to the conveying pulse 17, so that the component 10 arrangedon the conveying plate 2 is displaceable from a first storage position21 into a second storage position 22.

In the conveyor 1 illustrated, a first partial counter-pulse 23 isgenerated by one of the equalising pulse generators 11. A second partialcounter-pulse 24 is generated by another of the equalising pulsegenerators 11. The two partial counter-pulses 23, 24 are superimposed inthe counter-mass 12 to form a total counter-pulse 25.

A disruptive force 26 is exerted on the substructure 3 by the conveyingpulse 17. A resultant counter-force 27 which is in an opposite directionto the disruptive force 26 is exerted on the substructure 3 by the totalcounter-pulse 25, with an amount of the resultant counter-force 27 beingequal to an amount of the disruptive force 26. The two forces 26, 27neutralise each other.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the conveyor1 with a cancellation control unit 28 and a device control unit 29.Furthermore, a pulse generator 4 of the conveyor 1 which is fixed on thesubstructure 3 is illustrated which is brought into an operativeconnection with a conveying plate 2 which is illustrated merelyschematically. With the pulse generator 4 illustrated there isassociated an equalising pulse generator 11 which likewise is fixed onthe substructure 3 and which is brought into an operative connectionwith the counter-mass 12.

A pulse-generator control unit 30 is brought into an operativeconnection with the equalising pulse generator 11 of the conveyor 1,with merely one of the equalising pulse generators 11 being illustratedand designated. A frequency and an amplitude of the counter-oscillationgenerated by the equalising pulse generator 11 can be changed by thepulse-generator control unit 30.

The pulse generator 4 can be controlled by means of the device controlunit 29 of the conveyor 1 illustrated. The device control unit 29comprises an interface means 31 by means of which the conveyor 1 can bebrought into an operative connection with an external device 32.

FIGS. 4 A and 4 B show schematically illustrated sectional views of anembodiment of the conveyor 1, with merely the substructure 3, theconveying plate 2 and the counter-mass 12 being illustrated anddesignated.

In FIG. 4 A, the conveyor 1 is shown in its non-operative state, inwhich the conveying plate 2 and the counter-mass 12 are arranged intheir respective non-operative positions. In FIG. 4 B, the conveyor 1 isshown once the conveying plate 2 has been subjected to the conveyingpulse and the counter-mass 12 to the counter-pulse, as a result of whicha distance 33 between the conveying plate 2 and the counter-mass 12 isincreased.

As used in this application, the term “or” is intended to mean aninclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specifiedotherwise or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to meanany of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; Xemploys B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” issatisfied under any of the foregoing instances. The articles “a” and“an” as used in this application and the appended claims should beconstrued to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear fromcontext to be directed to a singular form.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1. conveyor    -   2. conveying plate    -   3. substructure    -   4. pulse generator    -   5. base surface    -   6. plate receptacle    -   7. coil portion    -   8. reaction element    -   9. upper spring arrangement    -   10. component    -   11. equalising pulse generator    -   12. counter-mass    -   13. lower spring arrangement    -   14. stand element    -   15. first partial conveying pulse    -   16. second partial conveying pulse    -   17. conveying pulse    -   18. first deflection    -   19. second deflection    -   20. conveying force    -   21. first storage position    -   22. second storage position    -   23. first partial counter-pulse    -   24. second partial counter-pulse    -   25. total counter-pulse    -   26. disruptive force    -   27. resultant counter-force    -   28. cancellation control unit    -   29. device control unit    -   30. pulse-generator control unit    -   31. interface means    -   32. external device    -   33. distance

1.-14. (canceled)
 15. A conveyor (1) for separating, singulating orconveying a component (10) by means of a mechanical pulse (15, 16, 17),wherein the conveyor (1) comprises: a conveying plate (2) for receivingthe component (10), a substructure (3), and a pulse generator (4) forgenerating the mechanical pulse (15, 16, 17), wherein the conveyor (1)when used as intended stands on a base surface (5) with the substructure(3), and the conveying plate (2) is arranged on the substructure (3) ata distance from the base surface (5), wherein the pulse generator (4) isfixed on the substructure (3) and can be brought into an operativeconnection with the conveying plate (2), so that the mechanical pulse(15, 16, 17) generated by the pulse generator (4) can be transmitted tothe conveying plate (2), and wherein a force is exerted on thesubstructure (3) by the mechanical pulse (15, 16, 17), wherein theconveyor (1) further comprises an equalising pulse generator (11) whichis fixed on the substructure (3), by which equalising pulse generator acounter-pulse (23, 24, 25) can be generated, wherein a counter-forcewhich is in an opposite direction to the force exerted on the conveyor(1) by the pulse generator (4) is exerted on the substructure (3) by thecounter-pulse (23, 24, 25), and wherein a resultant force which resultsfrom the force and the counter-force and which acts on the substructure(3) is reduced by the counter-force.
 16. The conveyor (1) according toclaim 15, wherein the equalising pulse generator (11) comprises acounter-mass (12) or can be brought into an operative connection with acounter-mass (12), wherein the counter-force can be increased by thecounter-mass (12).
 17. The conveyor (1) according to claim 16, whereinthe counter-mass (12) can be adapted to the conveyor (1) such that anamount of the force is equal to an amount of the counter-force, so thatthe resultant force can be cancelled completely.
 18. The conveyor (1)according to claim 16, wherein an amount of the counter-pulse which canbe generated by the equalising pulse generator (11) is changeable, sothat the counter-force can be increased without the counter-mass (12)having to be changed.
 19. The conveyor (1) according to claim 15,wherein the substructure (3) comprises a plate receptacle (6) at adistance from the base surface (5), on which receptacle the conveyingplate (2) can be fixed, wherein the pulse generator (4) can be broughtinto an operative connection with the plate receptacle (6) and whereinthe conveying plate (2) can be brought into an operative connection withthe pulse generator (4) by the plate receptacle (6).
 20. The conveyor(1) according to claim 15, wherein the substructure (3) comprises astand element (14), wherein the substructure (3) when used as intendedstands on the base surface (5) with the stand element (14).
 21. Theconveyor (1) according to claim 20, wherein the stand element (14) hasvibration-damping properties.
 22. The conveyor (1) according to claim15, wherein the conveyor (1) comprises a coupling means, wherein theconveyor (1) can be fixed on the base surface (5) by the coupling means.23. The conveyor (1) according to claim 15, wherein the conveyor (1)comprises at least two pulse generators (4), wherein a first partialconveying pulse (15) can be generated by one of the at least two pulsegenerators (4), wherein a second partial conveying pulse (16) can begenerated by another of the at least two pulse generators (4), whereinthe first partial conveying pulse (15) and the second partial conveyingpulse (16) can be superimposed in the conveying plate (2) to form aconveying pulse (17), wherein a conveying force (20) can be exerted onthe component (10) by the conveying plate (2) which is subjected to theconveying pulse (17), so that the component (10) arranged on theconveying plate (2) is displaceable from a first storage position (21)into a second storage position (22).
 24. The conveyor (1) according toclaim 23, wherein the conveyor (1) comprises at least two equalisingpulse generators (11), wherein a first partial counter-pulse (23) can begenerated by one of the at least two equalising pulse generators (11),wherein a second partial counter-pulse (24) can be generated by anotherof the at least two equalising pulse generators (11), wherein the firstpartial counter-pulse (23) and the second partial counter-pulse (24) canbe superimposed to form a total counter-pulse (25), wherein a resultantcounter-force (27) is exerted on the substructure (3) by the totalcounter-pulse (25), wherein the resultant counter-force (27) is in anopposite direction to a disruptive force (26) exerted on thesubstructure (3) by the conveying pulse (17), and wherein the resultantforce which acts on the substructure (3) and which results from theresultant counter-force (27) and the disruptive force (26) is reduced bythe resultant counter-force (27).
 25. The conveyor (1) according toclaim 15, wherein the conveying plate (2) is produced at least inportions from a translucent material.
 26. The conveyor (1) according toclaim 25, wherein the conveyor (1) comprises an illumination means,wherein the conveying plate (2) can be backlit by means of theillumination means.
 27. The conveyor (1) according to claim 15, whereinthe conveyor (1) comprises a device control unit (29), wherein the pulsegenerator (4) of the conveyor (1) is controllable by the device controlunit (29), wherein the device control unit (29) comprises an interfacemeans (31), wherein the conveyor (1) can be brought into an operativeconnection with an external device (32) by the interface means (31) ofthe device control unit (29).
 28. The conveyor (1) according to claim15, wherein at least one of the pulse generator (4) and the equalisingpulse generator (11) is designed as an oscillator, wherein anoscillation can be generated by the oscillator.